Psychology

Psychology is the science of behavior. This major allows you to increase your intrapersonal and interpersonal understanding and develop problem-solving, project management and information literacy skills.

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Overview

What is Psychology at WVU like?

Description

Psychology is the science of behavior. Courses convey the principles, methods and theories necessary for a better understanding of human and animal behaviors.

Studying Psychology allows you to work toward a liberal arts degree rather than a specialized degree that prepares you for a specific type of job. The major allows you to increase your intrapersonal and interpersonal understanding and develop problem-solving, project management and information literacy skills.

Typically, students tailor their schedules according to their future career paths, which generally fall into three categories: graduate studies, a career applying principles of psychology to human problems or a career in a non-related field.

Professional Organizations

Careers

What can you do with this degree?

About 25 percent of our graduates pursue graduate training in psychology, medicine or law. Over 50 percent enter the work force immediately.

Employment opportunities are available in assessment and treatment, human resource management, residential care and community and social services. Psychology graduates also find jobs in alcohol and drug intervention, impatient and outpatient facilities for persons with chronic mental illness or developmental disabilities, educational and occupational testing, group home counseling, geriatric counseling, youth center management, employment counseling and family planning.

Possible Careers

Wondering what you can do with a degree from WVU's Psychology major? Check out these ideas from WVU Career Services and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is the midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.

Bright Outlook

Green Occupation

Requires a Graduate Degree

Clinical Psychologists

Diagnose or evaluate mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests, and formulate and administer programs of treatment.
Possible job titles for this career include: Clinical Psychologist.

Counseling Psychologists

Assess and evaluate individuals' problems through the use of case history, interview, and observation and provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment.
Possible job titles for this career include: Counseling Psychologist.

First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of sales workers other than retail sales workers. May perform duties such as budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.
Possible job titles for this career include: Branch Manager.

First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of retail sales workers in an establishment or department. Duties may include management functions, such as purchasing, budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.
Possible job titles for this career include: Assistant Manager.

Human Resources Specialists

Perform activities in the human resource area. Includes employment specialists who screen, recruit, interview, and place workers.
Possible job titles for this career include: Employment Representative.

Insurance Sales Agents

Sell life, property, casualty, health, automotive, or other types of insurance. May refer clients to independent brokers, work as an independent broker, or be employed by an insurance company.
Possible job titles for this career include: Agent.

Mental Health Counselors

Counsel with emphasis on prevention. Work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health. May help individuals deal with issues associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; and aging.
Possible job titles for this career include: Clinician.

Residential Advisors

Coordinate activities in residential facilities in secondary and college dormitories, group homes, or similar establishments. Order supplies and determine need for maintenance, repairs, and furnishings. May maintain household records and assign rooms. May assist residents with problem solving or refer them to counseling resources.
Possible job titles for this career include: Residence Hall Director.

Social Science Research Assistants

Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management.
Possible job titles for this career include: Research Analyst.

Tutors

Provide non-classroom, academic instruction to students on an individual or small-group basis for proactive or remedial purposes.
Possible job titles for this career include: Academic Guidance Specialist.

Courses

What are the courses like in Psychology at WVU?

Major Map

For a program overview, learning goals and course descriptions, visit the course catalog.

Popular Courses

PSYC 302:Behavior Principles

Principles of behavior and learning and the significance of these principles for psychological theory and application; laboratory exercises and demonstrations.

PSYC 345:Adulthood and Aging

Psychological issues in the study of adulthood, with an emphasis on the characteristics of older adults. Topics include the psychosocial and biological context of aging, cognitive and personality changes from early to late adulthood, psychopathology in later life, dementia, issues in caregiving, and death and dying.

PSYC 370:Emotions and Mood

Theories, concepts and methodologies pertaining to emotions and mood. Topics also include development and socialization of emotions, and outcomes.

PSYC 423:Cognition and Memory

Theoretical and empirical issues in cognitive psychology. Topics include mechanisms and theories of attention, memory, language, and conceptual processes.

PSYC 491:Professional Field Experience

(May be repeated up to a maximum of 18 hours.) Prearranged experimental learning program, to be planned, supervised, and evaluated for credit by faculty and field supervisors. Involves temporary placement with public or private enterprise for professional competence development.

Cost and Aid

How much does Psychology at WVU cost? And how can you save?

Tuition and Fees

Estimated rates for the 2018-19 academic year. Rates are subject to change. Anyone that is not a current West Virginia resident will be charged non-resident rates. That includes international students.

Ways to Save

Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU. In addition to guaranteed admission agreements Psychology has transfer articulation agreements with:

Related Programs

What other options does WVU have?

The path to medical, dental, pharmacy or graduate school starts here. Biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics courses will challenge you in the classroom, while you pursue solutions to the world’s biggest issues in the lab — and build the foundation you need for professional or graduate school.

Biology majors study living organisms and the processes of life. Choose from four areas of emphasis to focus your studies: cellular and molecular biology, ecology and environmental biology, genomics and neuroscience.

When you understand chemistry, you begin to understand the extraordinary nature of the world down to its most basic particles. Chemistry is the science of the materials we use, the medicine we take, the environment we live in and the food we eat.

We prepare skillful communicators at both the theoretical and applied levels. Choose from four areas of emphasis (health, interpersonal or strategic/organization communication and social media and communication technology) — or complete the integrated communication track for a more general focus.

Go beyond the legal definitions of criminality. Criminology seeks to understand the nature and causes of criminality, as well as the successes and limitations of criminal justice approaches and processes.

We stand above all universities nationally with the largest forensic science and crime scene training complex in the nation — four crime scene houses, a vehicle processing garage, a ballistics test center and special outdoor venues.

Studying political science will help you understand why courts make the decisions they do, why legislatures pass the laws they do and why countries make the choices they make in the international arena.

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of others? Social workers help people function the best they can in their environment and circumstance. They provide direct services to people in their homes or places of work and help people to help themselves.

Combine your passion for sports with an evidence-based approach to psychology. You’ll learn about the theory and practice behind working with athletes, exercisers and performers from all backgrounds and domains.

In today’s increasingly global economy, you can use foreign language study to add a valuable international dimension to myriad career opportunities, such as teaching, business, economics, government work, journalism, law, medicine, computer science and other scientific research.

Where is WVU?

West Virginia University located in Morgantown, is located about 70 miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Close to D.C., Cleveland, and New York City, too. Fill in your address below to find out how close WVU is to you.